MCSO: Fatal Potter Valley house fire was accidental

The Mendocino County Sheriff/Coroner's Office on Wednesday classified the deaths of a father and son in a September house fire in Potter Valley as accidental.

Earle McDaniel, 87, and his 55-year-old son, Wesley McDaniel, were found dead in the burned home, described as a double-wide mobile home with an attached porch and garage, which was reported ablaze at about 8 a.m. Sept. 29. Investigators initially called the fire suspicious.

Several small- to medium-sized propane tanks, along with shotgun and rifle ammunition, exploded soon after the fire started, Potter Valley Fire Chief Bill Pauli stated previously. Authorities believed seven family members were inside the home at the time, including three children, ages 11 and younger. The children and their mother escaped.

The MCSO finished its investigation of the two men's deaths Dec. 13 and submitted a report of about 200 pages to the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office for review. Detectives believed the report didn't support an allegation made by a surviving family member, Dawn McDaniel, that the fire was intentionally set, according to the MCSO.

Statements from two surviving children suggested the fire had started accidentally as the result of an unattended burning candle, according to the MCSO. The location of the candle was consistent with the origin of the fire as witnessed at the scene by CalFire Chief Chris Rowney and Potter Valley Fire Chief Pauli.

The District Attorney's Office finished its review of the case Dec. 18 and concluded that there was "insufficient evidence to demonstrate the fire was anything but accidental," according to the MCSO.